Chair



NOV. 7, 1933. J, E BALES 1,934,396

CHAIR Filed sept. 2o, 1929 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orgies Metal Products, corporation of Illinois Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a

Application september 20, 1929 l Serial No. 393,888 Y 6 Claims.

My invention relates generally to 'chairs' and particularly to means for coupling chairs so as to present a gang or group thereof.

One oi the primary objects or my present invention is to provide in combination with chairs of the foldable type, simple and eilective means for linking a plurality of chairs together in such a manner as to insure the proper alignment thereof and to enable all of the chairs in such a group to be simultaneously folded together.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide improved means whereby the legs of a chair may be connected or 1linked` with companion legs of an adjacent chair so as to maintain said legs in desired spaced reiation and alignment. In addition to coupling adjacent chair legs I propose also to interconnect the seats of the chairs in such a manner as to co-operate with the leg couplings in maintaining the align ment .of the chairs and to enable a group or gang of chairs to be folded together or opened by merely manipulating one oi the chairs ci said group.

These and numerous other objects and advantages will be more apparent trom the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view disclosing chair coupling devices embodying features of myl invention in operative association with a pair of foldable chairs;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view shown partially in section of my improved means for coupling or linking together the chair seats;

Figure 3' is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plane view of the leg coupling device, said view being taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various iigures, it will be observed that my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with ioldable chairs and in Figure l I have designated a folding chair by the numeral 1G and a simiiar companion folding chair by the numeral a. These two chairs 1l) and 19a comprise a group or gang which I prefer to designate generally by the numeral 12. Each of the chairs 10 and 10a comprises a pair of front legs 14 and rear legs CIK 16 .which are pivotally connected to the upper portions of the legs 14 at 18. A detailed description or the chairs is not essential for a clear understanding of the invention and these particular chairs are merely shown for the. purpose'of illustrating one practical application of` the invention. Interposed between the legs 14, is a horizontal crossbrace or rung Zarld eX tending between the rear legs 16 is a similar cross brace or rung 22. A seat 24 is pivotallymounted 65 upon the legs 14 at 26 and rearward extensions 28 oi theseat are pivotaily and slidabiy secured to the legs 16. l

In order to effectively linlcor couple the adjacent legs i4 of the chairs 10 and ica, I provide a 70 coupling or clamping means designated generally by the numeral 30,.Figures l, 4 and 5. This clamping means is adapted to be similarly se-` cured to the front or rear legs of the chairand for the purpose oi explaining the function oi the device, I will describe it in connection with the front legs 14. This clamping device or coupling 3G comprises a pair of identical companion clamping `elements 32 which may be readily stamped or otherwise formed from suitable sheet material. Each of these clamping members 32comprses intermediate sections 34 which are adaptedV to be clamped together in abutting relation by means ci suitable bolts or rivetsS. At each extremity of the intermediate section'34 is a curved sectionk 85 33 which is adapted to partially encircle the leg 14. These vcurved sections 38 are so arranged thatwhen the intermediate sections 34 have been clamped together, the inner edges of the curved sections will resiliently bear against the peripheral surface oi the chair leg 14. The sections 38 are apertured to accommodate the cross braces or rungs 20 as clearly shown in Figure 4. It will be `apparent that the entire unit or clamping means 30 is secured against lateral swinging movement 95' as well as movement longitudinally oi the chair legs by reason oi the encircling engagement of the curved sections 38 with the rungs or cross braces 20. In this manner the chair legs are positively secured in proper alignment. g

Traversing the underside of the chair seats 24 is a hollow connecting brace 4l). This connecting brace 4i) is carried by U-shaped straps 42 which are secured to angle irons 44 by means of bolts 46. These angle irons provide the supporting means for the chair seat proper. A metallic band 48 extends around the outer margin of the seat and depends slightly below the lowermost edge of the angle irons as clearly shown in Figure 2. Notches r 50 provided in the connecting braces 40 are adapt- 110 ed to receive the lower edge of these metallic bands 48. The seating of the bands 48 within these notches 50 serves to secure the braces 40 against longitudinal movementJ when the U- shaped straps are secured in position by the bolts 46. The spacing of the notches 50 is such as to retain the adjacent legs of the coupled chairs in parallelism when the coupling or clamping unit 30 is secured in position. It will thus be apparent that the coupling unit 30 and the connecting brace 40 co-operate to rigidly maintain the adjacent chairs in proper alignment. The brace 40 couples the chair seats 24 so as to enable a plurality of coupled seats to be raised or lowered by manually manipulating a single chair seat.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention contemplates the provision of simple and durable means for coupling a plurality of chairs together and particularly for coupling chairs of the foldable type. The units 30 and the braces 40 may be attached to the chair with a minimum amount of effort and skill and these parts may be manufactured by practicing conven tional shop methods. The cha-irs need not be specially constructed in order to be equipped With my improved coupling device and my inventionv vlends itself for use in connection with chairs of varied sizes and shapes. The described coupling elements are comparatively small in size and hence do not add any appreciable amount to the bulk of the chairs when coupled together. While I have disclosed for purposes of illustration, a pair of coupled chairs, it will be readily apparent that by employing longer connecting braces 40 and additional coupling units 3G, any desired number of chairs may be effectively linked togethvseats and means for clamping said cross brace in position upon the seat structure.

2. The combination with a chair having a front frame including front legs and rear legs pivoted to the frame, a seat pivoted to the frame and slidingly connected to the rear legs, a cross rung connecting the front legs, a cross rung connecting the rear legs, and means cooperating with the seat and some of said legs for causing folding movement of the legs upon movement of the seat ina predetermined upwardly angular position, of a second chair of like construction arranged beside the first chair with a front and rear leg adjacent a front and rear leg respectively of the first chair, coupling means connecting adjacent front legs and adjacent rear legs of each chair at the rungs, and means connecting the seat of each chair, whereby tilting movement of one seat will tilt the seat of the other chair and fold the legs of both chairs. v

3. The combination with a plurality of chairs having front legs, rear legs and seats, said seats having marginal depending portions, of coupling means including a cross brace having notches arranged in spaced relation to receive said marginal depending portions of the chair seats, means for clamping said cross brace in position upon the seat structure, and clamping means engaging front and rear legs of adjacent chairs.

4. The combination with a plurality of chairs having front legs, rear legs and seats, said seats having marginal depending portions, of fastening means including a cross brace having notches arranged in spaced relation to receive said marginal depending portions of the chair seats, means for clamping said cross brace in position upon the seat structure, of coupling means for fastening adjacent chairs together, said coupling means comprising a pair of members having vertical grooves therein for engagement with adjacent legs of adjacent chairs, said coupling means having longitudinally extending horizontal grooves in their extremities to receivev chair rungs carried by said legs, means for clamping the members of the coupling means together to clamp the legs and rungs of adjacent chairs between the vertical and horizontal grooves in each of said members. 4

5. The combination of a plurality of chairs each having a foldable seat, folding legs andy means cooperating with the seat and legs of each chair for folding the legs'upon folding movement of the seat, means connecting the legs of adjacent chairs, and means connecting the seats of adjacent chairs whereby folding'movement of a seat will cause folding movement of the Yseats of the rest of said chairs and folding movement of the legs of said chairs.

6. In combination With a plurality of chairs, said chairs having seats each with a marginal depending portion and legs connected thereto, coupling means including a cross brace having notches arrangedin spaced relation to receive said marginal depending portions of the chair seats, means for clamping said cross brace in position upon the seat structure, and clampingv means engaging the chairs below the seats.V

JAMES E. BALES." 

